erupt
gb/ɪɹˈʌpt/ us/ɪɹˈʌpt/
B1
English
~ 9300
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
event
1
of a volcano, burst out lava
To suddenly send out hot rock, ash, steam, or another substance with great force, like a volcano or burst pipe.
Usage pattern:
[volcano/geyser/liquid] erupts (from [place])
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "erupt" with "interrupt" because they look similar. "Erupt" is about something bursting out or starting suddenly, while "interrupt" is about stopping someone or something in the middle of an action.
Synonyms
explode (Focuses more on something blowing apart with a bang, not always on material flowing out over time.)
|
spew (Stresses a strong, often continuous flow or spray of material rather than the sudden start of the event.)
Antonyms
subside (Describes the force or activity becoming weaker or going down after an eruption or disturbance.)
Collocations
volcano erupts
|erupting volcano
|erupt violently
|lava erupts
|ash erupts from
|geyser erupts
Themes
nature
|science
Examples
- The volcano erupted without warning, sending ash high into the sky.
- Boiling water erupted from the broken pipe and flooded the street.
- A column of steam erupted from the geyser every few minutes.
- Molten lava erupted from a crack in the earth's surface.
- Gas erupted from the crater, forcing scientists to move back.
Learner examples
- The volcano erupted during the night.
- Hot water erupted from the ground.
- Ash erupted from the top of the mountain.
- Steam erupted from the hole in the earth.
- Water erupted from the broken main in the road.
Verb
B2
event
2
violence or conflict starts suddenly
To start very suddenly and strongly, especially about fighting, violence, or protests.
Usage pattern:
[violence/conflict/event] erupts (in [place])
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to say "the people erupted" when they mean that conflict or protests started. It is more natural to say "violence erupted," "protests erupted," or "a fight erupted" rather than using "people" as the subject.
Synonyms
break out (Very close in meaning, common in news reports, and often slightly more general and neutral in tone.)
Antonyms
die down (Describes noise, conflict, or activity gradually becoming weaker after being intense.)
Collocations
violence erupted
|fighting erupted
|clashes erupted
|protests erupted
|a war erupted
|riots erupted
Themes
conflict
|news
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Violence erupted in the capital after the election results were announced.
- Fighting erupted along the border late last night.
- Large protests erupted across the country in response to the new law.
- Tensions had been rising for weeks before open conflict finally erupted.
- Riots erupted when the peaceful march was suddenly blocked by police.
Learner examples
- Violence erupted in the city after the game.
- A big fight erupted outside the club.
- Protests erupted when the prices went up.
- War erupted between the two countries.
- Riots erupted after the man was arrested.
Verb
B2
action
3
suddenly express strong emotion or noise
When a person or a group suddenly laughs, claps, shouts, or shows a strong feeling very loudly.
Usage pattern:
[someone/group] erupts in/into [laughter/anger/applause]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "erupt to laugh" or "erupt to applause." The natural patterns are "erupt in laughter," "erupt into laughter," or "erupt in/into applause."
Synonyms
burst out (Very similar, but often used directly with the action word, as in "burst out laughing" or "burst out crying.")
Antonyms
remain calm (Highlights the absence of sudden strong emotion or noise.)
Collocations
erupt in laughter
|erupt into laughter
|erupt in applause
|crowd erupted
|erupt in anger
|erupt into cheers
Themes
emotions
|social
|communication
Examples
- The audience erupted in laughter at the comedian's joke.
- When the team scored in the final minute, the stadium erupted into wild applause.
- He erupted in anger when he heard the unfair decision.
- The crowd erupted into cheers as the singer walked on stage.
- She suddenly erupted, shouting at everyone in the room.
Learner examples
- The class erupted in laughter when he fell off his chair.
- The crowd erupted into loud cheers.
- The fans erupted in applause at the end of the show.
- He erupted in anger after he lost the game.
- The room erupted into noise when the bell rang.
Verb
technical
C1
event
4
skin suddenly gets spots or rash
When part of the skin suddenly gets many spots, pimples, or a rash.
Usage pattern:
[skin/body part] erupts in/with [spots/rash/blisters]
Common mistake:
Learners often use only "get" ("my skin got a rash") instead of verbs like "erupt" or "break out." In medical or formal writing, "erupt" is preferred for a sudden spread of spots or a rash.
Synonyms
break out (Common in everyday speech ("break out in a rash"), slightly less technical than "erupt.")
Antonyms
clear up (Refers to a rash or skin problem going away and the skin returning to normal.)
Collocations
skin erupted in a rash
|face erupted in pimples
|arms erupted with blisters
|back erupted in red spots
Themes
health
|body
Examples
- His skin erupted in a painful red rash after he touched the plant.
- Within hours, her arms erupted with itchy blisters.
- Tiny red spots erupted across the child's chest overnight.
- The area around the wound erupted in small, raised bumps.
- After eating the shellfish, his face erupted in hives.
Learner examples
- Her skin erupted in a red rash.
- My face erupted in pimples last week.
- His arms erupted with small red spots.
- The child's back erupted in itchy bumps.
- After the bite, his leg erupted in blisters.
unknown
technical
C1
event
5
tooth comes through the gum
When a tooth grows and comes out through the gum so you can see it in the mouth.
Usage pattern:
[tooth/teeth] erupt (through [the gum])
Common mistake:
Learners often describe this only as teeth "growing" or "coming in." In medical or dental contexts, the precise verb is "erupt" and the noun form is "eruption."
Synonyms
emerge (More general verb for coming out or appearing; "erupt" is the standard technical term for teeth.)
Antonyms
remain impacted (Describes a tooth that does not erupt properly and stays trapped in the jaw or gum.)
Collocations
baby teeth erupt
|permanent teeth erupt
|wisdom teeth erupt
|erupting tooth
|tooth eruption
Themes
health
|body
Examples
- The child's first baby teeth began to erupt at around six months.
- Wisdom teeth usually erupt in late adolescence or early adulthood.
- If a tooth fails to erupt, a dentist may need to remove gum tissue around it.
- Crowding can occur when permanent teeth erupt before the baby teeth are lost.
- Her dentist explained that the upper canine had not fully erupted yet.
Learner examples
- Her first teeth erupted when she was a baby.
- Wisdom teeth usually erupt when people are about twenty.
- The dentist said the new tooth is starting to erupt.
- Some teeth do not erupt in the right place.
- The tooth did not erupt, so the dentist will check it.
Grammar
Dictionary form
erupt
IPA
GB/ɪɹˈʌpt/
US/ɪɹˈʌpt/
Syllables & stress
erupt (1 syllable)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: erupt
- 3rd Person Singular: erupts
- Present Participle: erupting
- Past: erupted
Word family
Forms
erupts
verb
erupting
verb
erupted
verb
Core family
eruption
noun B2
Advanced or less common
eruptive
adjective
Expressions
erupt in applause
1/ɪɹˈʌpt ˈɪn əplˈɔz/
fixed phrase
suddenly start loud clapping
To suddenly begin clapping very loudly.
Examples
- The audience erupted in applause when the band finished the song.
- The crowd erupted in applause as the winner stepped onto the stage.
- Parents erupted in applause after the children finished their play.
erupt in laughter
1/ɪɹˈʌpt ˈɪn lˈæftɚ/
fixed phrase
suddenly express loud laughter
To suddenly laugh very loudly.
Examples
- The crowd erupted in laughter at his silly comment.
- When the cat jumped on the table, the family erupted in laughter.
- The class erupted in laughter after the teacher's mistake.
erupt into applause
1/ɪɹˈʌpt ˈɪntu əplˈɔz/
fixed phrase
suddenly begin loud applause
To suddenly start clapping very loudly and for some time.
Examples
- The hall erupted into applause at the end of the speech.
- When the lights came on, the audience erupted into applause.
- The stadium erupted into applause after the final goal.
erupt into laughter
1/ɪɹˈʌpt ˈɪntu lˈæftɚ/
fixed phrase
suddenly start laughing loudly
To suddenly begin laughing very loudly.
Examples
- The whole room erupted into laughter when he told the joke.
- She slipped on the stage, and the audience erupted into laughter.
- As soon as he made the funny face, the children erupted into laughter.
violence erupted
1/vˈaɪələns ɪɹˈʌptɪd/
fixed phrase
violent acts suddenly begin
Violent acts, like fighting or attacks, suddenly start in a place.
Examples
- Violence erupted after the police moved in to clear the square.
- Violence erupted in several neighborhoods following the decision.
- Violence erupted when rival fans met outside the stadium.